Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane accounted for 70 per cent of Australia population growth in 2016-17, according to the recent figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Sydney’s population reached 5.1 million at June 2017, which was a significant increase of 2 per cent of 101,600 people since June 2016. 

Melbourne increased by 2.7 per cent of 125,400 people in the same period, and reached a figure of 4.9 million. 

However, Darwin, Adelaide, and Perth each experienced low population growth rates, with 1 per cent or less. 

The data included components such as internal and overseas migration, and natural increase which is births minus deaths. 

According to ABS Demography Director Anthony Grubb, these components make it “possible to not only see how much population is changing in an area, but to understand why this change is occurring.” 

Overseas migration was a big factor for the high growth rates in Melbourne, adding 80,000 people in 2016-17. This accounted for 64 per cent of the total population change. 

Sydney also experienced a high overseas migration rate, with the addition of 84,700 people. However, they experienced a net internal migration loss, as 18.100 people left Sydney in 2016-17. 

A large proportion of Sydneysiders internally migrated to other parts of New South Wales and Melbourne. 

Perth and ACT’s largest contributor to growth was from natural increase, while each components were more even in Brisbane and Hobart.